Friday, December 23, 2011

A 16-member delegation of the Rahim Yar Khan Chamber of Commerce and Industry briefed the Punjab chief minister on various issues, especially stressing the need for inception of cargo service from the RY Khan airport.
At the house of former MPA Mian Imtiaz, who had rejoined the PML-N after quitting the party and joining the Q League in Musharraf’s era, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif listened to the issues and pledged his full cooperation in this regard. The delegation led by Chamber President Muzaffar Saleem, praised the CM and appreciated the Punjab government’s efforts for solution to the businessmen’s problems, industrial development, establishment of a new seed market and an industrial estate, and construction of model villages in the district.
The businessmen demanded approval of a Fruit and Vegetable Grading and Processing Plant and a cold storage projects in the area, informing the CM that the PIA was agreed to start the cargo service from the Sheikh Zayed International Airport. But, they further said, non-installation of a processing plant and a cold storage were hurdle in the inception of the service from the district.
They disclosed that Rahim Yar Khan produces 33 percent of mangos out of its total production in Pakistan, adding that the district is also rich in production of other fruit and vegetables. But, they regretted, it lacked the processing plant and the cold storage thereby making export of fruit and vegetables directly from the district impossible and depriving the farmers a fair price for their produce.
Responding to the chamber’s delegation’s demands, the chief minister assured them of implementation of their suggestions. He added that he would soon visit the district again and meet the Chamber’s delegation. He was of the view that the industrial estate project would open new vistas of development not only in Rahim Yar Khan but also in its suburban areas, business activities would expedite, leading to increasing employment opportunities. He also said that the role of chambers is vital in development of industrial and trade development as well as in business activities in a region.
Discussing his party issues, the chief minister said that district Rahim Yar Khan has distinguished position in the Pakistan’s politics and expressed the hope that PML-N will re-emerge as the biggest political force in the district by the grace of Allah Almighty. He stressed the need for unity by shunning intra-party differences and expostulations.
The chief minister said that he was very pleased with Mr Imtiaz’s rejoining of his party, adding that the former had got back to home. On the occasion, he assured the CM of his full cooperation, saying that he and his companions would leave no stone unturned to make the district a stronghold of the Pakistan Muslim League-N.
The meeting was also attended by honorary adviser to the UAE Embassy Muhammad Munir, former National Assembly deputy speaker Jafar Iqbal Gujjar, MNA Saud Majeed, MPAs Malik Muhammad Iqbal, Muhammad Shafiq, Muhmad Ijaz Shafi, Zeb Jafar, Maiza Hameed, former MPA Masood Ahmad, Mehmoodul Hassan, Abdul Rauf Abdul Hameed Gujjar, fromer tehsil nazim Mian Ejaz Aamir, Abdul Razzaq, Bashir Ahmad Advocate, Muhammad Rafiq, Assadullah, Muhammad Ali, Khizar Hayat, Malik Sajid Feroz, Muhammad Ashraf, Ashgar Ali, Mian Munawar Hussain, Umar Hameed, Hafiz Muhammad Sohail, Muhammad Azkaar, Rana Abdul Hameed, Mehmoodul Haq, Mazharul Haq, Zafar Yasin, Muhammad Tayyab Advocate, Abdul Qayyoom, Muhammad Salim, Muhammad Ameen, Zakaullah, Muhammad Saeed, Rana Abdul Sattar, Shahzad Ashraf.